Memory frequency crown returns to G.Skill

G.Skill is once again touting a world memory frequency record after an overclocker pushed the company's TridentX RAM to an astonishing 4400MHz. The TridentX Series is recognized as some of the fastest RAM available, culminating in a 16GB (4x4GB) DDR3-3000 kit rated at CL12-14-14-35 at 1.65V. To achieve the world record in memory frequency, overclocker James "YoungPro" Trevaskis from TeamAU used a single stick from the aforementioned kit, which of course required exotic cooling.

A rare inside look at how PC components are made

It's easy to take for granted the parts that we put inside our PCs, but have you ever stopped to wonder about what's involved to build each piece? The manufacturing process of different components is rather fascinating, though for one reason or another, we rarely catch a glimpse of how it's done. Many of the factories are overseas, which presents a logistics problem for inside looks, and some companies are super secretive with their operations. However, Kingston allowed the folks at GamerNexus to take a look at how RAM and SSDs are made, and if you're a fan of technology, it's a must-read article with accompanying video.

Little memory has game.

If the PC market is insistent on moving towards smaller form factors and mobile devices, then kudos to Crucial for following along. The memory maker announced new Ballistix Sport SODIMMs designed to boost performance of gaming laptops, all-in-one systems, and mini ITX setups that require the smaller size memory modules. The new memory kits feature low latencies and are optimized for Haswell, Crucial says.

Funky or futuristic? You be the judge!

Adata is clearly making a fashion statement with the redesigned heatspreaders it slapped onto its new XPG V2 series of DRAM products designed for 3rd Generation Intel Core processors and the Z87 platform. Exactly which statement is up for debate. Some might view them as funky fresh, others might consider them fugly, but Adata says they were designed with a "futuristic form."

New RAM from AMD doesn't shun Intel users.

AMD on Wednesday announced its new Radeon RG2133 Gamer Series Memory and Radeon RAMDisk 4.1 software. According to AMD, it's RG2133 kit is the only memory on the entire planet that offers both XMP and AMP memory profiles in the same package, so no matter which platform you're rolling with -- Intel or AMD -- you can still benefit from AMD's pre-configured overclocking settings.

Adata may be targeting the wrong audience.

The folks at Adata announced an insanely fast DDR3 memory kit that can hit speeds up to 2600MHz, though it's interesting the company is taking aim at gamers instead of overclockers. It's true that PC gamers have a played a pivotal role in driving demand for increasingly faster components, but it seems to us this is the kind of kit a professional overclocker would have more interest in.

DRAM makers are shifting focus from desktop RAM to mobile memory.

Growing demand for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets is prompting memory chip suppliers to commit more capacity to mobile DRAM parts. With only so much capacity to go around, DRAM production for PCs is dropping, resulting in a sharp spike in contract prices. What all this means is that if you spot a good deal on RAM and are in need of an upgrade, go ahead and pull the trigger.

How much would you be willing to pay for an 8GB DDR3-3000MHz memory kit?

Give Corsair props for its new Vengeance Extreme 8GB dual-channel DDR3 memory kit consisting of two 4GB modules, which qualifies as the world's fastest rated PC memory at 3,000MHz. It also boasts latency settings of 12-14-14-36 at 1.65V, not bad for a kit of this caliber. Not fast enough? Corsair includes a Kingpin Cooling memory cooler for overclockers who want to use liquid nitrogen (LN2) to goose even faster frequencies out of these sticks. Let's talk price.

4GB memory modules jumped in price by more than 11 percent last month, DRAMeXchange says.

Anyone remember when a 2GB overclocking kit would run a couple hundred dollars? Those days are long gone, replaced by the current landscape in which you can scoop up a 32GB DDR3 memory kit for around $150 or $160. DRAM prices are dirt cheap, as they have been for some time now, and it's taken a toll on DRAM makers. According to DRAMeXchange, top tier memory makers continue to reduce shipments of commodity DRAM to drive up prices, and it's working.

Life is hard, play short. No, that's not Nike's new slogan, but Crucial may want to adopt it to promote its new Ballistic Low Profile (LP) memory kits. Crucial's LP modules are not only shorter than regular sized memory kits, they're also between 15 percent and 35 percent smaller than some of the LP kits its competitors are using, the company claims. Another claim Crucial makes is that its LP kits deliver the same performance benefits of regular sized Ballistix memory modules.